"Dancing appears glamorous, easy, delightful. But the path to paradise of the achievement is not easier than any other. There is fatigue so great that the body cries, even in its sleep. There are times of complete frustration, there are daily small deaths."

--Martha Graham

CAMP HOLLYWOOD JUST AROUND THE CORNER

The fun just doesn't stop! This summer there seems to be more dancing than you can shake a stick at. Next weekend July 28-31 is one of the biggest and most fun swing dance camps and competitions on the globe, and it's right in our own backyard -- Camp Hollywood.

Bill Elliott is one of our local heros. Well, former local heros. Last year he was hired on at the prestigious Berkeley School in Boston to teach jazz composition. Our loss, their gain. But Bill, for years, brought the highest level of new swing music to our scene. His big band was always one to pack the house. Camp Hollywood is flying him all the way out to California to put his band back together for this one night.

Regarding NJC, what an opportunity for all of us... to simply soak in all the amazing dancing from around the world, and/or to participate. There are all sorts of fun categories. The famous "Jack and Jill" contest is one I would recommend for all. This is where all the contestants come on to the dance floor and then you are arbitrarily matched up with a partner, you dance for about 30 seconds, then you are matched up with another partner, and so on. The idea is that you are judged on your social dancing skills -- that's it!

There are also some other fun categories: Inter generational - this is where you dance with someone 35 years younger or older than yourself. And what about pro-am. This is where one of you can ask a pro (like me, or any teacher of your choice) to dance with you. Only you are judged. But what fun, you get to dance with a teacher. Gio asked me last year, and it was a blast.

One thing I have discovered, it is always more fun to participate rather than sit on the sidelines. May I suggest to you that you join one or two contests. And for the evening dances, which are all themed, make sure to dress up accordingly!

And, if you can choose to only go to one event, I would like to encourage you to go Saturday nite. This is when the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra is playing AND when our very own Ron and Gio will be competing in the Team Division with their Hollywood Hornets; let's cheer on the home team!

We know there are over 30 Lindy By The Sea folks already signed up. Come join the fun! You wont believe what you see and it'll inspire you for years to come.

AUGUST FEATURED CLASS -- BALBOA!

We just thought we'd let you know way in advanced that our next Featured Class will be Balboa. Always a perennial favorite, Balboa is that wonderful swing dance that enables you to dance to really, REALLY (did we say "really"?) fast music... and not get too winded. We'll be covering the basics and getting into some good variations for your dancing pleasure. So don't forget to sign up for this series: July 27, August 3, 10, 17, 24th.

THE CUSTOM CLASS... TO BEGIN IN AUGUST
Advanced-Intermediate Lindy Hoppers

Note: The first group has been reserved for August. We will run the 9-10pm Tuesday slot as The Zone for this month (Advanced/Intermediate).

This is your chance to get exactly the training you want with the hands-on attention that only a small group class can allow.Here's how it works:

You pick the subject.
You put together your group.
You book us. (2-week or 4-week increments, Tuesdays from 9-10pm)
First come, first served.
Pricing is based on a sliding scale. (See below)

DANCE CLASSES! WHAT A BARGAIN!

We have a lot of wonderful options at Lindy By The Sea. Such as any second class taken on the same day is 1/2 price, and our "Golden Ticket" allows you to take ALL of our classes in a given series for only $100 or $90!! if you pre-register! (and $40 if it can go towards the "Custom Class" for those Advanced/Intermediate students). What a deal. If you took four classes in the series, it would break down to $5.62 a class -- where else are ya gonna find that kind of bargain.

USE YOUR QUICK STOP CARD TO PRE-REGISTER AND SAVE 10% ON CLASSES

(click on image to find out how it works and how you can get one!)

PRE-REGISTRATION DISCOUNT!

We have pre-registration discounts of 10% on the website. So you can register with your Quick Stop Card, or right on our site "easy peasy lemon squeezy". Go HERE. Remember, pre-register for class(es), you'll get a 10% discount off the normal prices. You can pre-register over the phone (310 606 5606), by check, or at on-line We hope that you'll enjoy taking advantage of this new offer...

AUGUST 3RD -- 50'S SOCK HOP!

You may have noticed some unusual scheduling for the next few weeks. I decided to have dj music on July 27th to help the pocketbooks of all those going to Camp Hollywood ($8 vs $12 for live music nites). We figure you've got four nights of dancing to live music, so we can show off a little with our wonderful Robert "The Professor" Vangor and yours truly spinning the tunes.

Then we put in a band for the first Wednesday of August -- The Hollywood Combo; so you'll be your quota of Rhythm Club live music. And let's make it a "SOCK HOP!" nite! That's right, on Wednesday, August 3rd, bring out those Poodle Skirts, don the jeans and the white t-shirts, slick back that hair! It's 50's nite at the Rhythm Club!

Make sure to note that we've got a three of your special requests coming back in August:

Chester Whitmore's Opus One Big Band
The Lucky Stars
and
Hal's Angels

JULY 20

WITH SPECIAL GUEST BRIAN ATKINSON

JULY 27

WELCOME CAMP HOLLYWOOD!

AUGUST 3

AUGUST 10

AUGUST 17

AUGUST 31

Dance Lesson and DJ on the first
Wednesday of each month from 7:30-8:00
8:00-11:30pm -- Dance! Dance! Dance!
(check our calendar)

We already have plans to dance our tootsies off right in Manhattan Beach on Sunday, August 7th. Why not join us and we'll have a big showing of swing dancing in the South Bay. Wear your Lindy By The Sea - Rhythm Club t-shirts and bowling shirts!.

USO FUNDRAISER -- LBS DANCERS ENTERTAIN

L-R Molly, Ricardo, Sarah, Jamie, Jennifer, & Jeremy

A week ago Sunday, six of our Lindy By The Sea gang dressed up to the nines in retro, drove out to the Ronald Regan Library, and danced up a storm for the guests at a USO Fundraiser. We thought you'd enjoy seeing how great they looked!

Mora's Modern Swingtet at Rusty's Rhythm Club

FLYING ALLIGATORS: Italian Lindy Hoppers! You just wonder what could be more fun than Lindy Hopping and Italians! I don't know. But you're about to see. Today, two of Italy's finest proponents of the dance are winging their way to LAX, and if flights stay on schedule, we'll be the lucky ones -- Vince and Isa will join us at the Rhythm Club for a great night of social dancing. And if they're not toooooooo jet lagged, maybe we can encourage them on to do a short display of dancing -- Italian style! Take a look at their website and find out about your new friends and dancing partners -- Vince and Isa. And, please everyone, don't be shy about asking them to dance -- that's what they've come here for!

* Wondering
what the heck a "gate"is? This was a phrase popularized by 1940's comedian,
Jerry Colonna, who would holler it out every time he was introduced on the
Bob Hope radio program. It was a friendly salutation to a swing cat (dancer
or swing music enthusiast).

JOIN THE FUN!
BUT, WHAT THE HECK IS IT?

Many of you still don't know about our Swing Shift Rhythm Club. It's one of our best kept secrets. Now is the time to get the SSRC "above the radar."

THE SWING SHIFT RHYTHM CLUB (SSRC), founded in 2000 by Rusty Frank's swing dance students, The SSRC has two missions:

1. Having fun! (Fun)
2. Doing good deeds! (Philanthropy)

1. Having fun: Events where swing dancers can socialize and get to know each other outside of class (vintage clothes shopping, going to a dance-related movie, dancing in the park, eating at retro restaurants before a dance, etc.).

2. Doing good deeds: Events where we bring swing dancing to hospitals, senior homes, and community events for the purpose of good deeds, entertainment, and education in the Los Angeles area.

The SSRC is a volunteer club open to the public and the events are organized by its members. There are no dues. Members can attend as many or as few events as they wish.

"How do I join?"...
Right now, fill in your email address
and click the Yahoo log (that's it!):

Subscribe to SwingShiftRhythmClub

Then you will receive updates of activities (or you can organize one yourself!). Check the yahoogroup "Swing Shift Rhythm Club" calendar here for postings of upcoming events.